The Valentine's Day Challenge

Today being Valentine’s Day, I wanted to take a different approach than the typical jargon you would normally hear on this day and address something that we often don’t like or want to address.

In Matthew 5:44, the Bible instructs us to love our enemies, to bless those who curse us, to do good to those who hate us, and to pray for those who persecute us.

In life, it’s so easy to only love those who love us, to only be nice to those who are nice to us, and only reach out to those with whom we feel a special connection. But, what about those who don’t love us back, those who aren’t nice to us, or those with whom we aren’t close? What about those we don’t get along with on our jobs, those with whom we have had disagreements, or those we just don’t like for whatever reason? Do we treat them the same way or do we treat them differently?

The Bible calls us to do our part – to play our position, if you will – not based on someone else’s actions, but based on what we know is right. Being a Christian, or even being a good person, is not based on what you do, but rather the spirit by which you do what you do. It’s based on your motives, your intentions, and what’s going on in your heart (“For man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” – 1 Samuel 16:7).

The fact is that people can fool you by their actions, but their intentions will always show. Satan tempted Jesus by offering Him the entire world (a seemingly good thing), if He would only bow down and worship him. See, his intentions weren’t pure. He expected something in return. His good deeds came at a price.

So what does that mean for us?

It means that love is not an emotion to be shown, but an action to be done, whether or not it is returned to us. We ought to not show love, but do love to others despite what they might do to us. We should be nice to people because we know it is the right thing to do, not simply because someone else is nice to us first.

So, will you do something nice for someone today without expecting something in return? Will you say hello to a stranger on the street? Will you show love to someone on your job who you don’t like? This is my challenge to you today, and every day.

“For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” ~ Matthew 5:46-48